Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-20
RATHER A PECULIAR eRRANO.
4 Melancholy Young Man no Wanted tn
Sell some Diamopd,-Scnred Out

4 Melancholy Young Man uho Wanted to
Sell some biamonds-ScAred Out.
A handsome private cab stopped in
front of an old established iewelry store
| on Fulton street one day not long ago. A
tall man vii Ii very pale face and mourn
tul black eyes alighi-d and walked into
the store All the clerks were at once
upon the alert Ia serve him. He was
elegantly but quietly dressed, and carried
himself easily and gracefully. He had
handsome face. with clear cut features,
aud Il rather long black mustsehe, but his
eyes were particularly attractive from
their peculiarly sad expression
- would like Ia See the proprietor" " he
sald IN "A quiet, manly voice
\ good looking young man, with joviai
twinkle in his brown eyes, stepped for
ward What is il eau do for yous" he
inquired
mime is rather peculiar errand," said
the stranger. "a short time ago bought
very elegant pair of diamonds, intend
ing To give them 10 my wife to have made
into u pair Of earrings" Here his voice
became very soft, and he with difficulty
concealed his emotion. "Since Them he
continued in firmer tones. my wife has
died Her Illness dated from the time she
received the diamonds, and | am sufii
Ciently superstitiuus to connect the dla-
munds with that sad event. am therefore
desiruus Of getting rid Of them a. speedily
as possible, and l am willing to make
sacrifice in doing so
As he spoke the ieweler watched him
closely. The stranger drew a small pack
age from his pocket and handed il to the
jeweler. The latter quickly opened it. and
two large and brilliant STONES rolled out
on the show case. The jeweler examined
them closely. Well l don't know about
buying them" he said. How much do
you want for themg'
Well said the man, obviously, II
paid 5000 for them. | am willing, in
order TO get rid Of them right away, 10
sell them for 81 200"
The ieweler smiled slightly. Where
did you buy them he inquired at length.
AT Titfany's,' was the reply.
The Jeweler continued To toy with the
diamonds, and signs of nervousness began
10 show themselves III the face Of their
owner.
You are quite sure that yOu paid
$2,HI for them:' said the ieweler, sud
denly, iookin. the man full in the face.
The latter started aud turned q shade
paler.
"Certa' a'uly: that is, believe did, =" he
stammered 1t is some time ago, and
have been So upset by my afftiction since
then that | may have forgotten the exact /
price"
You live in town, presumes" contin
ued the Jeweler, still keeping his gaze
firmly fixed on his customers face
"Ies-tha; is, NO; | don't just ut pres
a. Il
living with souIe frieuds il the country
Just now -
Quite sure about that aren't youy'
said the jeweler in n quizzing tone.
By this time the stranger had become
very weak B, his legs and more or less
shaky all over. His hands trembled yio-
lently despite all efforts To control them
and his face was white and drawn
Gathering himself together he said, in n
tone Of pretended indignation, What do
YOU mean, sir, by that question: would
not sell the diamonds to you now at any
price. l did not expect u be insulted
when / came here l will trouble you to
return my diamonds" and he put out his
hand to t.:ke them.
''Oh, no." returned the jeweler quietly
smiling You are right in saying that
you will not sell them TO me, but you will
not take them away either. Those dia
monds are stolen"
Its lie," cried the man, his features
Give them to me "
The ieweler did not move, but continued
a. smile pleasantly. If you wish will
call in policeu an" he said
The fellow shrank back, and without
another word ran out of the store Quickly
10 the Coachman he Jumped
into the cab and WAS rapidly driven away.
"YOu had considerable nerve to un-
mask that fellow" the reporter observed.
why, | took him for some bank presi-
dent or retired Croesus from his appear
aace and style Of his turnout"
The ieweler laughed 1T is not the
lilst time that such thing has happened"
he said "A jeweler in this city has to be
on the gni yive 10 avoid being
taken III by swindleTs. l had the same
opinion of this man that you did until he
began to tell me about these stones As
soun as he said that lie had bought them
1t TiTany's for S., 900 know they were
stolen"
why" asked the reporter.
Because Tiffany could not buy them
Jr that sum. Those jewels are worth at
sast 81, 500 at first cost. That is the way
sc catch most thieves. We ply them with
questions about the jewels they want to
ell until they give themselves away"
hat do you do with the jewelry,n Il
I'VE try TO find the rightful owner ~
kew York sun.